Today Microsoft announced a new feature phone, the Nokia 215. This Internet ready phone is a new design and aimed at connecting more people than ever before with the price of the device starting at only $29.00. For what the Nokia 215 offers, it is pretty impressive but I have to ask: At that price, why not get a Lumia 520 Windows Phone ?
While it may not be the soothing balm of a new release of Office, Windows Phone users should take some comfort in that Microsoft is listening. Well, at least Joe Belfiore is on the subject and if you are going to have one person listening, he’s the one. Microsoft’s Vice President of Windows has posted on the Chinese blog site Weibo that an update for Office for Windows Phone is coming and news about it and the next version of Windows Phone will be announced before the Chinese New Year. For those who want to keep score, that’s 48 days from today: February 19, 2015.
Windows Phone activations for the week of Christmas this year were a strong 5.8% of the total activations for the market according to Yahoo’s Flurry service. This generally represents 2% over the general market share of Windows Phone globally and certainly is something that should please the folks in Redmond. Still, when compared to the mammoth 51.3% that Apple iOS devices collected in this research, it is clear that Windows Phone, the Little OS That Could, still has a long way to go.
Flurry is an analytics service from Yahoo and they measured the week of Christmas this year, December 19-25, and collected their data from the over 600,000 apps they track. They then use this information to extrapolate the number of devices that were activated over the week based on these apps. It’s not entirely scientific but it is certainly a good indicator of what devices people received as gifts or bought and started using last week.
Microsoft has released an update to their Device Hub for Windows Phone app, bringing support for the Lumia MD-12 Wireless speaker amongst other updates. The update, version 3.6.3.5 for those keeping score, is available now in the Windows Phone Store and is a free download. Lumia Windows Phones come with Device Hub so you have this app already and my not know it.
For those who aren’t familiar with what Device Hub for Windows Phone does, it allows you to connect and manage your other phones, accessories, tablets, computers, TVs, game consoles and other devices. It is, as the name suggest, a hub for you to access these other devices in your life.
Microsoft has released an update to their Remote Desktop app for Windows Phone. The update, version 8.1.7 for those keeping score, brings the normal bug fixes but also brings a new feature that heavy users will find a big benefit. Now you can pin apps to the Start screen on your Windows Phone.
In addition to this, automatic refresh of Azure RemoteApp has been added to this update for those who use that service.
The app is free and available now in the Windows Phone Store
Today is the final day of the Microsoft 12 Days of Deals promotion and Redmond has decided to go out with a bang. Today you can get a 12 month Xbox Music Pass for only $29.90 in store. That is a $70 savings off the normal price of $99.90. Even if you don’t live near a Microsoft retail location, you can still save big online as the Xbox Music Pass at the online store is $49.90, a savings of $50. The online promotion starts at 8:00 AM EST while the in store pricing will be in effect as soon as your local Microsoft store opens and while supplies last.
With the release expected any day now, Microsoft has released a video on their YouTube channel on how the updating process for your Windows Phone to Lumia Denim. The video is about 3 minutes long and covers all of the new features of the next firmware update which is pretty extensive. You can read my guide on Lumia Denim to get the full briefing of what is coming.
Today’s 12 Days of Deals promotion at Microsoft is another great, budget friendly offer. Today you can get an Xb0x 360 4GB console with 2 free games in store or 1 free game online for an incredible $149.99. These will go quick! That is $30 off the regular price of the Xbox 360 plus the $49.99 game value makes it a great deal.
Xbox 360 4GB Console with 1 Free Game ($49.99 value) – Microsoft Store